Ch. 301..310
Chapter 301 The Mastermind
Johnathan received Dayton’s secret message, saying he was taken to the police station. He had a bad premonition and wanted his mother’s help. Unexpectedly, he heard the maid mentioning Catherine was back.
He was so scared that he dashed into his room and locked himself in it. Catherine might not lay her hands on him in the Swanns’ place.
Meanwhile, Catherine and Branden were in the living room downstairs. The atmosphere of the living room was strange. Korbin had asked Branden his motive for visiting the Swanns. Branden took a case file from the police station and handed it to Korbin.
“Mr. Swann, take a look at this!”
Korbin was taken aback by it and read through the document seriously. The victim had already been changed to Branden. Korbin was startled by what he saw.
He had never expected there would be someone in Casier who would dare to assassinate Branden. That person must be foolish!
However, what shocked him most was Branden showing him the information. So, he knew that this matter might not be that simple.
He put on a surprised expression and looked at Branden as she said, “Who is the person who even dares to assassinate you? You should never let him off and punish him! Only then would no one dare to think about hurting you.”
Branden shot Korbin a cold glance unintentionally before looking away. He spoke coldly, “Mr. Swann, you are right. I do have to punish the mastermind to warn others.”
Korbin was puzzled. He nodded and observed Catherine. Unsure why, he felt this had something to do with Catherine.
“Mr. Swann, haven’t you just asked who was behind this?” Branden asked suddenly, leaving Korbin utterly bewildered.
He could not guess meant. what Branden. He carefully observed Branden’s expression, hoping to get an answer. Before he could guess, Branden told him the answer.
“Mr. Swann, according to the clues and evidence given to me by the police, the mastermind’s name is Dayton Barret.”
Dayton?
Korbin’s heart skipped a beat, and he almost passed out. Paxton placed Dayton’s document before him.
“Mr. Swann, this is the mastermind’s information. It seems the police found he might have partners and are still investigating the matter.”
Johnathan had many bad friends. Korbin didn’t know many of his friends, but he knew Dayton once by coincidence.
He did not even get to double-confirm if his guess was correct. The next second, he saw the photo on the document Paxton handed him.
Maybe it was because he was flustered, but he forgot to hide his emotions.
Although he calmed down shortly, Branden had noticed his puzzled and doubtful expression. He had been guessing that Korbin was involved.
From Korbin’s expression, he knew Korbin had no idea what was going on. Korbin’s mind was in a mess, yet he remained calm on the surface.
He would not believe his son would have the guts to murder Branden. Then, he looked at Catherine, silently sitting beside Branden and observing them. He finally understood what was going on. Korbin decided to face this calmly.
He looked at Dayton’s information and pretended to be surprised. “I have never expected such a youngster would dare to kill you, Mr. Duncan, you should never let this guy off.”
Catherine looked at her cunning father and remained silent. She understood why her grandfather was unwilling to hand over the family. assets to her father.
Her grandfather did not want his lifework to be ruined just like that. Korbin would ruin everything he had accumulated all his life in just a few years.
Even now, Korbin still could not see through Branden’s motive. Maybe Korbin was doing this to protect Johnathan. He was willing to sacrifice anything for his son. Branden sneered meaningfully and observed Korbin.
“Looks like you don’t have any clue. Well, we will excuse ourselves, then.”
Korbin still felt something was off. He thought, “Is Branden here to test me?”
All Branden came for was to ask this.
It was impossible! It would not be simple. When he snapped out of his thoughts, Branden had already gotten up and wanted to leave with Catherine.
Subconsciously, he called out. “Mr. Duncan…”
Branden stopped and turned around, looking at Korbin coldly. “Mr. Swann, is there anything else you want to tell me?”
Korbin hesitated and asked eventually, “Mr. Duncan, may I know if you have any clues about the other culprits?”
Branden snorted.
He had already been kind enough to speak nicely since Catherine was Korbin’s daughter. However, it seemed that he had been too kind.
“Mr. Swann, isn’t it obvious why I am here?”
Korbin’s smile faded, and he realized he should not have taken it for granted. Branden was a reputable man and an influential person in Casier. He was someone everyone feared.
Not only Johnathan but even if Korbin attempted to conceal it, he couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t be subject to investigation by the Duncans. Korbin had no choice left.
He shot a cold glance at the butler and ordered coldly, “Go. Get that brat Johnathan to come down now!”
The butler knew something terrible had happened and left without hesitating. After the others left, Korbin invited Branden to have a seat again.
“Mr. Duncan, please sit and wait for a while.”
Branden disagreed this time and still held Catherine’s hand tight. Korbin felt awkward. He had no choice but to give up. He could not order Branden, but he could scold his daughter.
“Catherine, why are you standing in your house? Sit and bring Mr. Duncan over to sit there.”
Catherine sneered. They had never treated her as family, yet he said this was her house. It might be a little too late now to acknowledge her.
Although Catherine did not care about Korbin’s order, she still sat. She wanted to see what Korbin would. do next. Upstairs, Johnathan heard someone knocking on his door and scoffed as he put on his earphones, trying to pretend he had not heard it.
Unexpectedly, he had only been able to enjoy his silent moment for two minutes. The next second, the room door was opened forcefully, and he was dragged out of his room to the living room downstairs.
The butler had received Korbin’s order and had to carry it out. He knew it was urgent. So, he did not give Johnathan any chance to negotiate. He dragged Johnathan downstairs forcefully.
“Mr. Swann, Mr. Johnathan is here!”
Johnathan looked at everyone in the living room and scoffed in disdain upon seeing Catherine.
He was so angry that he broke free from the servant’s grip and shouted, ” How dare you treat me like this!”
Before he could scold more, he heard a loud slapping sound and felt a burning pain on his cheek.
That slap made him feel dizzy, and he was dumbfounded.
Chapter 302 Murder Attempt
Johnathan covered his cheek and looked at his father in disbelief. His father was stern, but he would never slap him in public or scold him when outsiders were around. Yet his father slapped him before his jinxed sister and with Branden and the others around. It was strange.
Johnathan wanted to retort after he recovered from his shock, but his father scolded him before he could do SO. Korbin stared at Johnathan and cursed like Johnathan was not his son.
“You bastard! Kneel now!”
Johnathan knelt subconsciously after being slapped. Rachael got the news of Catherine visiting their place as soon as Catherine arrived.
She immediately headed back home and saw her son kneeling before everyone. She was pissed and questioned without even caring who was around. “What is going on here?”
Korbin lifted his head and looked at Rachael coldly and in displeasure. Immediately, Rachael realized something was off.
She quickly calmed down and gently said, “Hubby, what’s wrong? What did Johnny do? Why are you punishing him?
Korbin snorted and looked angry.
“Ask your son what he has done!” Rachael approached her son and held his arm as she looked at his swollen cheek, feeling sorry for him.
“Johnny, what’s wrong? Why is your father punishing you? Did you do something wrong?”
Johnathan looked at his mother in grief. He was flustered, but he was not afraid anymore since his mother was with him.
No one could bully him with his mother around. Johnathan looked at his mother, aggrieved. “Mom, I did nothing. I was at home all day. I am so lazy and don’t even like to come downstairs. What would I do?”
Rachael nodded, agreeing to that. She felt sorry for her son.
“Hubby, Johnny is right. He did not even leave the house. Could it be some misunderstanding? Maybe someone is trying to accuse our son of something he has not done.”
When Rachael spoke, she glanced at Catherine on purpose. Korbin sneered upon hearing this. Hmph, why would Mr. Duncan come here if that was the case?”
They were putting on an act and played well. Rachael looked at Branden. Deep down, she was displeased with Catherine, thinking that Catherine was only bringing trouble to the Swanns.
Although she was unhappy about it, she had to smile because she was facing Branden. She did not even care to bother about Catherine’s existence. “Mr. Duncan, maybe it’s a misunderstanding?”
Branden sat on the sofa with Catherine beside him. Feeling bored, Catherine was already playing games on her phone with her earphones on.
Hearing Rachael’s question, Branden sat upright and glanced at her. Then, he scoffed. “Looks like you don’t know your son well.”
Rachael was taken aback and only reacted after a while. She suppressed her anger and spoke, Mr. Duncan, what do you mean by that?
The next second, Branden leaned back against the sofa lazily. He gave an annoying response this time, rejecting to communicate with Rachael. With that, Paxton took over communicating with them, indicating Rachael had no right to speak to him.
Since Rachael disrespected his girlfriend, she had no right to talk to him. Paxton handed Rachael the document he had given Korbin.
“Rachael, an hour ago, Mr. Duncan was attacked. The mysterious man who attempted to murder Mr. Duncan has been arrested. They have arrested one of the masterminds, Dayton. I’m sure they will discover the rest of the culprits.
“Since the Duncans and the Swanns were family friends, and Catherine is dating Mr. Duncan, Mr. Duncan decided to pay you all a visit. However, it seems that you and Mr. Swann do not appreciate this chance.”
Rachael took a few steps back in shock when she heard what Paxton mentioned.
Murder attempt?
It was shocking news, and the person they wanted to murder was Branden.
She was dumbfounded. Johnathan reacted quickly. “I don’t know Dayton. Why would you look for the culprit here? I warn you not to accuse me of what I haven’t done. Otherwise, I’ll sue you for accusation without proof.”
He would never admit this.
It was purely an accusation. He had never wanted to murder Branden!
He wasn’t a fool!
He would never offend the Duncans!
Johnathan shouted, yet Paxton glanced at him coldly, ignoring his threat. “Mr. Johnathan, the Duncan Corporation’s legal team will await your lawyer’s letter.”
Those words were enough to shut Johnathan up. The Duncan Corporation’s legal team was famous in Casier. It would be impossible to win them in a court trial.
They would be lucky enough not to lose more. Paxton’s phone happened to ring at that moment. He chuckled upon seeing the caller ID.
Paxton was famous for his cold expression. It was creepy when he chuckled like that. After answering the call, Paxton placed his phone on the table and put the call on speaker mode.
“Mr. Duncan, we’ve uncovered new evidence in the case, and it’s a significant breakthrough. The confessed culprit, Dayton, has implicated Johnathan Swann, stating that this man instigated him.”
Johnathan panicked upon hearing his name being mentioned. “Stop talking nonsense! You are accusing me of what I haven’t done!”
Paxton hung up the call and looked at Korbin as he spoke coldly, “Mr. Swann, I think the police will be here soon. This is a murder case, and I am sure your son could explain himself since he seems to be a good talker.”
Korbin’s expression turned serious, and he knew what Paxton meant. Johnathan was involved in a murder case, which could not be dealt with by bribing the police.
Rachael was also shocked and did not expect this. The police had investigated and found out Johnathan was involved. This would be troublesome to deal with. Paxton looked at the expression on the Swann couple and told them the latest law.
“If the police have evidence about this matter, Mr. Johnathan would be sentenced to prison for ten years, and it would be worse if he were found guilty for some other thing. I am sure you understand what I mean.”
Chapter 303 Gave Up
Korbin understood what Paxton meant for sure. Paxton might only be Branden’s assistant. However, what he said represented Branden’s intention.
Korbin did not speak up soon and looked at Rachael instead. He wanted her to settle this matter. Rachael panicked. She did not expect this matter to be so serious.
Being imprisoned for ten years would mean her son’s life would be doomed. She would never let that happen. Under her husband’s instigation, she decided to beg Branden for mercy.
The only person who could turn the table was Branden. She put down her arrogance and looked at Branden with a smile.
“Mr. Duncan, I think this must be a misunderstanding.”
It was again the same old sentence. Branden did not even look at her. Feeling awkward, Racheal decided to punish her son. She turned around and slapped Johnathan. It was a loud slap as if she was trying to prove something.
Johnathan was dumbfounded again. This was the first time his mother had slapped him in his life. Rachael gritted her teeth and said, ” Brat, be honest! Do you want to be taken away by the police?”
Johnathan lifted his head and looked at his mother. He noticed his mother trying to beckon him to go with her flow. He covered his face and cried, “Mom, I didn’t do it! I wouldn’t dare!”
He wanted to deny it, but Paxton did not give him another chance. Paxton took out a new piece of evidence and said, “Mr. Swann, Mrs. Swann. this is the transaction history of Mr. Johnathan transferring money to one of the culprits.”
When Paxton showed them the evidence, Rachael fell to the ground, and Korbin’s expression turned gloomy. They finally understood that Branden did not go over to ask questions. He was there to seek revenge.
From Paxton’s attitude, they could see Branden had all the evidence needed and was waiting for them to admit it.
Since that was the case, Rachael could only make her son admit it and minimize the damage caused to their family. Johnathan had never expected the Duncans to have so much evidence and wanted him to go to prison.
He shoved off his mother’s hand and roared, “Mom, are you a fool not to notice Catherine is here to seek revenge? I have never arranged for anyone to murder Branden. My target had always only been Catherine!”
Branden snorted and opened his eyes. He squinted his eyes and looked at them. His oppressive temperament was like the dark clouds before the storm. It was depressing to look at him. He looked sinister and cold.
“Looks like you have admitted you paid someone to carry out a murder for you Mr. Johnathan?”
Then, he lifted his eyebrows and looked at Johnathan meaningfully. His gaze looked mysterious, challenging anyone to decipher its intent. Since things turned out like this, Johnathan gave up.
“Yes. I planned this, but I never wanted to kill you. My target is that jinx, Catherine!”
Johnathan had always been ruthless and would never even listen to his parents. From the beginning to the end, he had reflected on his mistake.
He felt embarrassed as he had been slapped by his parents and humiliated before so many outsiders and the woman he hated the most.
“What have I done wrong? Catherine was the one who wanted me dead. I was getting back at her.”
Johnathan did not expect it to be such a coincidence that Branden happened to be with Catherine. The men Dayton employed were thugs and would not recognize Branden.
If he knew Branden would also be there, he would never have arranged for them to attack Catherine. No one would dare to offend Branden in Casier. He was not a fool. Why would he do something like that?
Catherine happened to end her first round of games and heard Johnathan screaming through her silent earphones.
She did not like explaining but would not let anyone accuse her either. She knew what Johnathan meant by saying that.
Catherine took off her earphones and lifted her head to look at Johnathan. Her calm and cold expression scared him a little.
Evan Johnathan did not know why he would feel fear when Catherine looked at him like that. It was natural for him to be afraid when Branden glared at him.
Branden was a reputable man, and he had always had a domineering temperament. Meanwhile, Catherine was nothing to him.
Putting her phone aside, Catherine felt uncomfortable sitting like that. She adjusted her position and leaned against Branden’s shoulder, making him her bolster.
After adjusting her position, she spoke in her usual lazy tone as she glanced at everyone casually, not taking anyone there seriously.
“It has nothing to do with me. You are a fool to believe in what others tell you and have been made used by them. Don’t you realize that?”
Johnathan heard Catherine’s words and was pissed off. “How could that have nothing to do with you? You did that. Catherine, do you think you could get away with it? You are such a coward for refusing to admit what you have done! What a shame!”
Catherine scoffed as she looked at Johnathan. “I don’t need your praise. Johnathan, who do you think you are to condemn me?
“You can report it to the police if you have evidence.”
Johnathan thought of something and quickly tugged his father’s trousers. “Dad, show them the evidence you found. We can report it to the police and make them arrest this jinx.”
Johnathan had been a fool all this while. To him, he thought everything would be settled with Catherine being arrested.
To keep herself safe, Catherine would have to let go of him. Then, he could get back at Catherine after everything was over. Korbin was speechless by his son’s foolishness.
He could not understand why his son was such an idiot. He had indeed investigated that someone had done something to Johnathan’s car, causing the accident.
But he had no proof that it had anything to do with Catherine. He would never let Catherine off if he had the evidence.
With Korbin’s character, he would have already reported to the police and gotten Catherine arrested long ago. It would help him eliminate this jinx and have the Swann Corporation to himself.
With Johnathan causing this trouble, they had not only alarmed Catherine but also given her an opportunity to get back at them.
Catherine brought Branden to their place just to get Johnathan arrested. Johnathan was a fool and had offended Branden. In Casier, no one would dare to provoke Branden. Korbin had no choice but to speak and try to turn the table to save his son.
“Johnathan, what nonsense are you talking about? How could you think of your sister like that and be blinded by other’s instigation? How could you even try to murder your sister? You disappoint me!
“Don’t ever say you are my son!”
Chapter 304 Letting Him Off
As Rachael Lang listened to her husband’s changing tone, she instantly grasped the situation. Despite the ups and downs of their many years of marriage, the level of understanding and unspoken communication between them was still intact.
She turned and angrily scolded Johnathan Swann, looking like she couldn’t believe his recklessness.
“John, you are such a foolish child. How could you do this? It’s bad enough that you’re overthinking things, but you went as far as harming your sister, Kathy, as well. She is your sister, and we’re family. How could you do this?” rebuked Rachael incredulously.
Rachael sternly warned Johnathan,” I’m telling you now, I won’t tolerate this incident today. You owe your sister an explanation!”
This reprimand even made Paxton Duncan, who was standing nearby, feel uncomfortable. He seemed to understand why Catherine Swann always had that icy and distant demeanor in order to keep everyone at arm’s length.
Dealing with a family like this would be strange if she weren’t so distant. They would be all smiles when they needed something, addressing each other as family.
However, in contrast, when there was no need, they wished the other person would disappear immediately, and they were experts at placing blame. It was truly sickening.
After Rachael finished scolding Johnathan, she went on to appease Catherine. Although she secretly wished she could strangle Catherine, she had to lower her pride to please Catherine for the sake of her beloved son.
“Kathy, I know your younger brother made a mistake this time, but this is a family matter. There’s no need to take it to court, right?”
“Don’t worry; after this incident, I will definitely teach Johnathan a lesson so that he won’t dare to repeat such actions!” claimed Rachael.
In the face of Rachael’s attempts to please her, Catherine didn’t even glance at her. She stared at her phone throughout and completely ignored her. Rachael trembled with anger at the moment as she noticed Catherine didn’t bother about her.
She would have charged up and given Catherine a piece of her mind if it weren’t for Branden Duncan being present. As Rachael was unable to confront Catherine directly, she pretended to look helpless as she turned to Branden.
“Mr. Duncan, you’ve seen it too. My daughter has been distant from us since she was young. She doesn’t respond or agree to anything I say. I don’t know how to communicate with her anymore!” said Rachael.
Rachael had only one purpose in saying all this, as she wanted to expose Catherine’s true nature in front of Branden.
She couldn’t believe that a prestigious family like the Duncans would accept a girl who showed no respect for her elders and had no manners, even towards her parents.
It was known that in the world of elite families, the utmost importance was placed on etiquette and hierarchy.
While a girl like Catherine, who was lacking in manners and refinement, wouldn’t even have a chance to step into it. Branden’s lips raised slightly, and he looked at Rachael with an amused and worldly-wise smile.
“I believe motherly love is noble, but Mrs. Swann, are you worthy of it?” asked Branden. The response from Branden didn’t cause any significant injury but rather a severe insult.
Clearly, Rachael had abandoned her child out of selfishness and left her to fend for herself in the countryside. Branden thought that it was shameless of her to even blame Catherine for not being close to her.
Rachael’s face alternated with anger. She hadn’t expected Branden to come to Catherine’s defense, and she certainly hadn’t anticipated that he would show her no respect in front of everyone. She fixed her eyes on Branden and hoped to find a way to justify herself.
“Mr. Duncan, could it be that my nine months of pregnancy were a sham? I am her mother, isn’t that real?” said Rachael.
However, in contrast to Rachael’s frustration, Branden remained remarkably composed. He spoke with a calm and indifferent demeanor, a stark contrast to his heated argument with her just moments ago.
He continued, “I wonder, Mrs. Swann, if you’ve ever heard the saying, “To give birth but not raise is to be ungrateful and sinful.””
Since no one had ever spoken to her like this due to their respect for the Swanns’ influence, Rachael had been left speechless by this retort.
After all, as Catherine was a girl that nobody wanted, it wasn’t worth offending the Swanns for her sake. However, Branden was the first to speak such words, and Rachael was too shocked to know how to respond.
After she fell silent, Branden gently removed the earphones from Catherine’s ears.
“Take a break,” said Branden to Catherine. He continued, “You’ve been playing games for nearly an hour and stared at your phone screen the whole time. It’s not good for your eyes.”
His advice was delivered so gently, completely different from the way he had fiercely confronted Rachael earlier. The transformation was striking.
Then, Catherine obediently set her phone aside without hesitation. Rachael finally realized that everything she had said to Catherine earlier, and even as well as the subsequent slander, had been brushed aside.
She had acted in a play with no leading character. This realization was more embarrassing than being slapped in the face in public.
At this point, she harbored a deep hatred for Branden. However, she knew that the Duncans wielded immense power, and she had no means of resistance to them.
This feeling of pent-up anger and nowhere to vent it was enough to drive her mad. Korbin Swann had no choice but to step in after seeing his wife, who was unable to salvage the situation.
He knew that without explaining to Catherine today, or more accurately, without explaining to Branden, who was supporting Catherine, they would never be able to resolve this matter.
Since they had already obtained favorable evidence, Johnathan might actually go to jail.
“Kathy, no matter what, Johnathan is your younger brother. Please, for my sake as your father, let him off the hook. If you have any requests, name them, and I will do my best to fulfill them,” said Korbin.
Even the parents, who usually held themselves high, were bowing their heads to Catherine.
Johnathan, the fool that he was, genuinely began to feel scared. His face turned pale, and he huddled behind Rachael. He was too frightened to show his face and thus relied on his parents to resolve the matter.
Catherine smirked coldly, and her stunning face bore a chilly smile with a touch of sarcasm when she faced Korbin’s request.
“You’ll agree to any request?” she questioned. Korbin and Liana Swann felt that Catherine’s gaze was off-putting, creating an inexplicable sense of fear. But for the sake of saving Johnathan, they had no other choice.
After all, Johnathan was their only son. Korbin nodded and then looked at Catherine with a fatherly expression.
“Kathy, we’re family, and Johnathan is your brother. You wouldn’t harm him, would you?” said Korbin.
“Of course, not going to jail works too, “Catherine casually remarked in a light voice and indifferent appearance.
Korbin silently breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought that Catherine, along with Branden, had come here to make a big fuss and strip him of his dignity.
He had even prepared himself to part with some of his assets. He hadn’t expected Catherine to be so accommodating.
“It seemed that she still wanted to please us in the end.” thought Korbin. Korbin felt that Catherine was still clever in the end. After all, her blood ran with the Swanns’ lineage. Korbin assumed, “Her goal was clearly to marry the Duncans by getting closer to Branden.
“Furthermore, how could she have a better life in the Duncans without a powerful family backing her?
“Smart women knew how to make choices,” he muttered. Korbin smiled and nodded with his eyes containing a hint of satisfaction.” Catherine, I always knew that you were sensible and cared for your younger brother!” said Korbin.
Catherine gave a faint smile looking at Korbin, but her charming expression hid an unfathomable chill. She said, “Hold on!”
Chapter 305 Lesser of Two Evils
Korbin Swann looked up, his gaze fixed on Catherine Swann, wondering what kind of trick this girl was planning to play.
“What do you mean?” he asked. Catherine stared coldly at her father and did not bother to hide her arrogance.
“I promised you that I won’t let him go to jail. What about your end of the deal? ” said Catherine. Korbin had initially thought this was a mere formality, but Catherine was taking it seriously.
“Don’t worry, your brother made a mistake, and I will make sure he pays for it. I’ll cut off his pocket money for a whole year and have him reflect in front of your grandfather’s memorial tablet,” replied Korbin.
As Korbin revealed the punishment, all of them who were present had various reactions. Johnathan Swann was about to explode upon hearing that his pocket money would be cut off.
Rachael secretly sighed in relief. After all, her husband did care for their son. When it came to matters that could be solved with money, it wasn’t a big deal.
Upon hearing Korbin’s punishment, Catherine burst into laughter. Her laughter was clear and pleasant, with a touch of mockery and a hint of coldness, thus making it difficult for anyone to read her intentions.
“Dad, were you playing house when you came up with this?” said Catherine.
Some people didn’t need to resort to shouting or violence. She could make their opponent feel embarrassed with just a simple sentence.
Catherine was such a person. When she spoke, Korbin felt as if he had been stabbed in the spine. He narrowed his eyes and cast a dangerous glance at Catherine.
Just as his gaze landed on her, he felt an overwhelming pressure coming from her side. Korbin immediately turned his head and met Branden’s deep and gloomy eyes.
The powerful aura emanating from Branden made Korbin feel uneasy. The words he had prepared to say suddenly stuck in his throat, and he swallowed them back.
Catherine adjusted her sitting posture, put down her phone, crossed her arms, and looked at Korbin with a mocking smile.
“Dad, if Johnathan can hire someone to murder at such a young age, and if we let him go unchecked, he might become the next crime lord of the Swanns. What do you think?” said Catherine.
Korbin had initially wanted to downplay the situation, but from Catherine’s tone, he realized that things were not as simple as he had imagined.
Upon hearing Catherine’s definition of the incident as “hiring someone to commit murder”, Rachael began to tremble.
Despite Korbin’s warning, she couldn’t help but lash out at Catherine. With wide-open eyes and a furious expression, she looked like she wanted to devour Catherine.
“What nonsense are you talking about? It was just a minor fight between siblings. There’s no need to make up such ridiculous stories!” said Rachael.
Catherine’s attitude remained cold even when she was faced with Rachael’s anger. Her beautiful face was now devoid of any warmth, and her eyes revealed a chilling indifference.
“If Mon has any objections to my statement, why not verify it with the police? I believe they will give you a satisfactory answer,” spoke Catherine coldly.
Catherine left Rachael speechless with just a single sentence. Rachael knew she would be making a fool of herself if she went to confront the police with such an absurd story.
“Now that the evidence is clear, and everyone knows the situation, how could she possibly do something so foolish?” thought Rachael. Thus, she could only resort to breaking the jar to figure out Catherine’s true intentions.
“So, what’s your plan then? Since your father says you don’t agree, it means you already have an idea in mind. Why don’t you tell us?” said Rachael.
Catherine indeed had a plan in mind. When Branden asked her to handle this matter on her own, she had already thought of a solution.
Johnathan had indeed made a mistake, but she had promised Vicente Swann that she wouldn’t let Johnathan face a dire fate. Considering that Johnathan was the only grandson, Catherine wouldn’t send him to prison.
While capital punishment might be avoided, escaping the consequences of his actions in life would be difficult.
“Dentler Academy has some special methods for educating troublesome students. Let’s send Johnathan to study there!” said Catherine.
Johnathan hadn’t heard of this school, so he didn’t see any immediate issues, but the mention of changing schools made him feel uneasy. However, just because he wasn’t familiar with it didn’t mean Rachael and Korbin weren’t.
Dentler Academy was well-known among the elite circles, specializing in admitting problematic students, typically from affluent families.
The tuition fees were exorbitant, thus making it inaccessible for ordinary families. The school was renowned for its strict management style, and before enrolling, parents had to sign an agreement.
During their time at the academy, students were allowed to meet their families only once a year, and they were not permitted to leave the school grounds at any other time.
If students wanted to leave the school before graduation, they had to pay a hefty breach of contract fee.
However, if they graduate successfully, one-third of the tuition fee will be refunded. The school was located in a remote and isolated area on a small island.
Students were transported to the island by helicopter, and leaving the school was as difficult as escaping from the strictest prison in the world. Rachael strongly opposed the idea after hearing that.
She said, “No, we can’t send Johnathan to a place like that. Going there is equivalent to a death sentence. How can you be so heartless?”
Rachael knew her son best as he had been pampered since childhood. How could he survive in such a place?
Going there would be a one-way ticket to disaster. In response to Rachael’s objections, Catherine remained remarkably composed. She then replied, “Then you can just let him die.”
“You…” Rachael was exasperated and struggling for breath. “You’re a disaster. How can you be so malicious? He’s your brother, and you’re willing to let him die.”
Catherine’s gaze grew cold, and her eyes radiated an unsettling chill.
“A disaster has no brother nor any family,” replied Catherine upon hearing Rachael’s words. Rachael was at her wit’s end. There was nothing she could do to sway Catherine.
Although Rachael had lived for many years, she had never encountered such a tenacious individual as Catherine. In this matter, Rachael had no say.
Moreover, for the sake of her beloved son, she would be willing to sacrifice everything. After all, as long as Johnathan was around, her position as Mrs. Swann” in the Swanns would remain secure.
Catherine redirected her cold gaze to Korbin and said, “Dad, should we hand this to the authorities or send him to Dentler Academy? It’s up to you.”
Korbin didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Branden. He noticed that Branden had stopped intervening in the matter after Catherine began handling it, allowing her to take charge.
Despite how hard Catherine challenged them, Branden maintained a calm expression and sat by Catherine’s side as her support.
“Could it be that Branden had taken an interest in Catherine? Were they in a serious relationship?” thought Korbin. If that were the case, it would complicate matters.
Korbin wanted to make the final attempt and tried to negotiate with Catherine. He said, “Catherine, I agree with your approach. But Dentler Academy is too far away. Can we find a stricter school in Casier instead?”
Chapter 306 Daring to Bargain
Korbin Swann felt that he had already given Catherine Swann enough face. If Branden Duncan weren’t present, he would have already taken control of Catherine and taught her a lesson. She needed to learn her place, especially challenging the Swanns.
After hearing Korbin’s condition, Catherine smiled and fixed her chilly gaze on him. She calmly asked, “Dad, do you think this is a discount store? You keep asking to bargain.”
Bargaining was beneath Catherine’s dignity. She viewed it as a mockery of the situation. Korbin glared at Catherine with anger in his eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, “Catherine, don’t push it too far!”
Catherine crossed her arms casually, appearing relaxed but exuding an overwhelming arrogance. Catherine’s composure made her seem even more dominant compared to the furious members of the Swanns.
The atmosphere in the living room plunged to an icy low, and an intense standoff began between father and daughter.
When it seemed the situation was about to escalate further, the Swanns’ butler hurriedly entered the room. Korbin was somewhat displeased when he saw the butler’s anxious expression. He asked, “Is the sky falling? Why are you so frantic?”
The butler looked embarrassed after being reprimanded. He lowered his head and whispered, “Mr. Swann, two law enforcement officers are outside. They say they’ve come to see Mr. Johnathan.”
The speed of their arrival was astonishing. The expressions of everyone present changed with this news. Johnathan quickly realized the gravity of the situation and immediately grabbed Rachael’s hand, pleading for mercy.
“Mom, I don’t want to go to jail. Please, please don’t let me go to jail!” said Johnathan.
Rachael was also getting anxious. Her earlier composure was completely gone. She kept holding Johnathan’s hand and trying to comfort him.
“Johnny, don’t be panic. Mom won’t let you go to jail, absolutely not,” Rachael reassured him. Catherine looked at Rachael, who was comforting Johnathan, as her actions calmed him down.
She noticed and realized that not because they were lack of compassion but they didn’t care about her. Catherine’s gaze remained fixed on them, and she didn’t notice another pair of eyes watching her intently.
Catherine’s expression was calm and without a hint of emotion. Branden, on the other hand, sensed something different. He felt a trace of sadness for Catherine.
He thought that deep down, she must have yearned and longed for maternal love even though she had grown up isolated in the countryside. If not for her mother’s cruelty, she might not have developed this tough exterior.
It was truly heart-wrenching. Just now, even the once stern and unyielding Korbin had to give in when faced with this unexpected danger.
He knew that Catherine had come prepared, bringing along Branden as her powerful advisor. This meant that they had already lost the upper hand in this battle. Korbin had no choice but to comply. After all, he couldn’t bear to see his son imprisoned.
“If I agree to your conditions, can you guarantee that Johnathan will be safe?” he asked desperation in his voice. Catherine didn’t respond immediately. She raised an eyebrow and looked at him intently.
Korbin knew that he had no room to negotiate. If he didn’t accept Catherine’s proposal, his son would face the risk of imprisonment.
At least three years of studying in Dentler Academy seemed like a better alternative to him than going to jail. He believed that money had the power to move mountains. Once he dealt with Catherine, he would find a way to have his son withdraw from that wretched place.
He clenched his teeth and reluctantly agreed, “Fine, I agree. When this semester ends, I will send Johnathan to Dentler Academy.”
“Tomorrow!” Catherine coldly uttered and set a deadline.
“Tomorrow?” Korbin exclaimed in surprise as his eyes widened. Catherine nodded slightly and taunted, “Dad, you’re still in your prime. You shouldn’t have trouble with your hearing.”
She didn’t ask for tonight, which was already done a favor for the Swanns. Pushing for further negotiations would only lead to a prison sentence.
Korbin was truly livid, but he had no choice. He had to comply with Catherine’s demands. Frustrated and with no outlet for his anger, Korbin finally exploded when he saw Johnathan still sitting there.
“Why are you still sitting here? Don’t you want to pack your bags? Are you getting ready for prison?” he scolded. Rachael was startled as she had never witnessed Korbin lose his temper like this before. She hurriedly pulled her son away.
At the same time, Paxton Duncan also got up and headed outside to deal with the two law enforcement officers.
In the spacious living room, only four people remained. Korbin wore a scowling expression as he glared at Catherine, who sat across from him with an air of indifference.
“Catherine, you’re quite something, latching onto your brother’s mistake. You’re not worthy of being part of the Swanns,” Korbin accused.
Catherine slowly stood up. The matter had concluded, and she was tired. Thus, it was time to rest.
She didn’t pay any attention to Korbin’s accusations and looked at him with a cold gaze. “If someone at such a young age understands how to hire killers, considering it a hallmark of the Swanns’ education, then it seems like it’s a reflection of the values the Swanns have instilled. Perhaps it would be better if the Swanns ceased to exist, ” said Catherine.
Korbin’s face turned red with anger as Catherine continued to rebuke him. There was no denying that Johnathan’s actions had been foolish. Furthermore, his actions were also felt like an insult to the intelligence and reputation of the Swanns.
Catherine didn’t spare her father, and she even made a subtle remark that could be interpreted as criticism of how Korbin had handled Vicente Swann’s inheritance.
“The only silver lining in all of this is that Mr. Vicente passed away early. He doesn’t have to witness these disgraceful events. Otherwise, he might have risen from his grave in anger and strangled these unworthy descendants of the Swanns. If they won’t listen, that’s one thing, but they also engage in such foolish acts!” said Catherine.
Catherine’s words held a double meaning. While she openly scolded Johnathan, she indirectly criticized Korbin as well.
After all, it wasn’t just Johnathan who didn’t heed the words of the Swanns’ elders. Korbin also ignored Vicente’s wishes. This happened when it came to Catherine’s inheritance left by Vicente for her and refusing to let go.
As he was unable to out-argue Catherine, Korbin could only express his frustration with loud exclamations.
“You are such an unfilial daughter! You’re no daughter of mine!”
“Hmph!” Catherine Swann snorted coldly and turned her back on Korbin. She had stopped regarding him as her father since the moment he decided to send her to the countryside.
If not for the unchangeable Swanns’ genes she carried, she wouldn’t have even looked at Korbin properly.
Yet, he still behaved so indifferently, prattling on and on. Catherine had no intention of continuing to engage with Korbin. She turned around and greeted Branden, preparing to leave.
Branden held her hand and stood by her side. However, Branden didn’t immediately leave with Catherine. He stopped in his tracks, fixing his cold and icy gaze on Korbin.
“Mr. Swann, the one who I supported, not to be trifled with. Today, I’ll spare the Swanns out of respect for Catherine, “said Branden.
A cold gleam flashed in his eyes despite his seemingly gentle smile, and his voice was chillingly cold.
He continued, “However, mark my words, if there’s a next time, the Duncans will spare no effort in seeking justice.”
Chapter 307 Pleasing Your Stomach
After Catherine Swann, accompanied by Branden Duncan, had completely disappeared from the Swanns, Korbin slowly came to his senses.
At this moment, what echoed in Korbin’s mind was the sentence Branden had said before leaving and the terrifying look in his eyes.
He held his hand up in mid-air, looking somewhat awkward to maintain his balance. The Swanns’ butler, Ezra Noah, rushed forward to assist him and helped him sit down slowly.
“Mr. Swann, are you alright?” Ezra asked with concern. Korbin’s gaze wandered, and he shook his head slowly.
He hadn’t expected that Catherine would find such a formidable ally to support her. His attitude and demeanor just now had been truly startling.
He couldn’t help muttering to himself, “How did she manage to find such a powerful person to back her up?”
Ezra shook his head silently and felt somewhat helpless as he watched Korbin’s attitude. He had worked for the Swanns for the majority of his life, and his relationship with Korbin was extraordinary. In fact, he was a few years older than Korbin.
He genuinely didn’t want to see the Swanns divided. From his observations during this period, he realized that Catherine wasn’t an ordinary person.
Sometimes, the person directly involved might not see things as clearly as an outsider, which was clearly Korbin’s situation.
“Mr. Swann, this might not necessarily be a bad thing. After all, Miss Catherine is your daughter. Which daughter wouldn’t help her father? In fact, the Duncans are one of the most powerful families in Casier, with immense influence and immeasurable strength!
“Which family wouldn’t want to establish such a marriage alliance? Miss Catherine has this opportunity now. Shouldn’t you be happy?” said Ezra.
If the Swanns used the marriage alliance with the Duncans wisely, they could undoubtedly elevate their status. Korbin squinted his eyes and felt somewhat irritated when he thought of Catherine’s attitude just now.
“That troublesome girl, she hasn’t infuriated me enough already, and now she’s helping me? How is that even possible?” said Korbin. Ezra cautiously said, “Mr. Swann, if you’ll permit me to speak freely. Please don’t take offense.”
Korbin naturally wouldn’t mind. Ezra was one of his trusted confidants, someone who usually appeared to be his wife but ultimately followed his lead.
“Go ahead, don’t hesitate. You’ve been with the Swanns for many years,” said Korbin. Ezra nodded knowingly. It was precisely because of his long service in the Swanns that he dared to voice his thoughts.
He continued, “Mr. Swann, blood is thicker than water. It’s natural for Miss Catherine to have some grievances in her heart, especially since she suffered a lot while growing up. If you could lower your stance a bit and accept her, how could she refuse?
“I feel that Miss Catherine might not be as ruthless as you imagine, or else she wouldn’t have let the young master off the hook today,” said Ezra.
Korbin fell into deep thought in response to Ezra’s words. He didn’t care about Catherine’s opinion of him. Catherine was just a daughter to him, even who was with a notorious reputation for being a harbinger of misfortune. It didn’t matter to him.
He was a shrewd businessman who prioritized profit above all else. Regardless, Ezra had a point. The Duncans were a powerful and influential family in Casier.
Thus, if his daughter could establish a connection with Branden and make him vouch for her, then he should indeed utilize this relationship for the benefit of the Swanns.
In the face of significant benefits, sacrificing a bit of pride seemed reasonable. After coming to this realization, Korbin’s expression changed, and a sinister smile crept onto his face.
“In a few days, when that girl has cooled off a bit, I’ll give her the opportunity to move back in!” said Korbin.
His tone sounded condescending, and Ezra couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. “Was Mr. Swann really sure that Miss Catherine wanted to return?” thought Ezra.
Back from the Swanns, Catherine found her eldest sister, Audrey Swann, already at home. The sound of the door opening caught Audrey’s attention, and she greeted Catherine with a playful smile.
“Kathy, did you go out to have fun with Mr. Duncan? You’re so mean, leaving your sister all alone,” said Audrey.
Catherine didn’t feel like explaining too much in response to her sister’s teasing. Catherine felt that certain things were better left unsaid as she felt Audrey didn’t need to know.
As Audrey saw Catherine remained silent, she didn’t pay much attention. Audrey was well aware of her personality as she didn’t know her for the first time.
“Kathy, I bet you and Mr. Duncan enjoyed some delicious food outside, right? Poor me, I had a lonely cup of instant noodles for dinner,” said Audrey.
If Audrey hadn’t mentioned it, Catherine would have forgotten that she hadn’t had dinner yet. Images of the homely dishes Branden had prepared for her over the past few days flashed by in her mind.
Suddenly, the takeaway from Chuddle’s downstairs didn’t seem as appealing. Audrey chattered on to Catherine for a while, but Catherine remained silent.
Eventually, Audrey couldn’t help but say, “Kathy, I’ve been talking for so long. Can you at least say something?”
Catherine turned her head slightly and looked at Audrey with calm eyes.
“I remember you said yesterday that last night’s dinner was your last one. You vowed not to have dinner for a month. That’s your commitment,” said Catherine. Yesterday, Audrey had indulged in a delicious and exceptionally fresh seafood feast.
Audrey even made a solemn promise to her gym buddy, Kim Morris, that she would abstain from having dinner for a month to control her weight.
This commitment was particularly important because Audrey had just accepted a role. She needed to maintain a slim figure for her character, a delicate young lady in a traditional costume.
“Whoever has seen a petite lady who is as round as a ball, that’s definitely not acceptable!” thought Audrey.
Catherine had discovered Audrey’s secret and revealed it. Audrey couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly. “Kathy, don’t be like this. We’re good sisters, after all!” said Audrey.
Catherine rolled her eyes at her sister and didn’t want to bother with her. Suddenly, she pulled out her phone to check as her phone rang and vibrated.
[Come over for dinner!]
The message was concise and clear. Without even checking the sender’s number, Catherine knew it was from Branden.
If Audrey were paying close attention to Catherine’s expression at this moment, she would have noticed in Catherine’s eyes the slight upturn at the corners of her eyes and her whole demeanor glowing with beauty.
After reading the message, Catherine put her phone away and headed towards the door.
Audrey had wanted to ask where Catherine was going before. However, seeing that she hadn’t even changed her shoes, she closed her mouth in silence.
Without asking, she knew that her sister was definitely going to the neighboring room where Branden was. Audrey shook her head helplessly and said, “When girls grow up, they will then become independent.”
The distance between the two rooms was just a step away. Catherine walked up to the door and was ready to knock. As if there were some telepathy, the person inside the room automatically opened the door.
A handsome and charming face greeted Catherine’s eyes, and with it came the aromatic scent of food wafting through the air.
Branden took Catherine’s hand and pulled her inside without saying a word. Catherine stared at their intertwined hands, and a faint smile played at the corner of her mouth. This man had become so natural at holding her hand and not even bothering with a greeting!
The delicious aroma of the food filled the room, making Catherine feel relaxed all over, and her mood was exceptionally good.
Suddenly, a phrase popped into her mind.
“The way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. “Indeed, this man was a master at slowly winning her over,” thought Catherine.
Chapter 308 Unexpected Revelation of Character
Loyalty Academy. After a short holiday break, the students in Class 8 didn’t seem to be in good shape. Three days of vacation felt more tiring than their regular studies.
They not only had to free their long- trapped souls but also faced a lot of assignments, which left this group of students exhausted.
However, this exhaustion was mainly for ordinary students. For some students, those who were exceptionally outstanding made others envy and jealous as things were different. Take Bryan Duncan and Ronin Oconnor, for example. Their situation was unmatched!
Bryan seemed to be in his usual state, but Ronin appeared to be a bit abnormal. He hunched over his desk, eyes fixed on something outside the window. However, it wasn’t exactly clear what he was looking at.
His normally dull eyes suddenly sparkled for a moment. Then, he stood up excitedly and shouted at the classroom door, “Boss…”
Well, there was no need to look as everyone knew who had just arrived. Compared to the typical starstruck fans, Ronin, who was a die-hard fan of Catherine, was the epitome of perfect idol worship.
His eyes only lit up when Catherine was around. A smile appeared on his usually cold and emotionless face.
Catherine walked into the classroom expressionless, and Bryan had already pulled out a chair for her. She sat down without a word.
After everyone had arrived, Ronin approached Catherine with an aggrieved look on his face. Catherine glanced at him and calmly asked, “Is there something you need?”
Ronin pouted and looked like a little wounded animal. His eyes were fixed on Catherine, and there was a hint of resentment and grievance in his tone. He said, “Boss, why didn’t you call me before you left yesterday?”
Ronin had been upset the entire day because of this. He was so furious that he almost destroyed Triston Lambert’s island. If it weren’t for Triston Lambert’s persistent persuasion, Ronin would have exploded.
Catherine had thought it was something important, but it turned out to be a useless sentence. But it was true, and it fitted Ronin’s personality.
“Something came up, and I had to leave in a hurry,” Catherine explained briefly. Ronin, who had just looked so aggrieved, suddenly changed his expression within seconds.
This change was as fast as a flash of lightning.
His expression left everyone around in awe. To make it even more amusing, Ronin himself seemed completely oblivious to his actions. He continued cheerfully, ” Oh, I see. Boss, next time, if it’s not an emergency, please let me know before you leave.”
“Alright,” replied Catherine.
As Catherine responded promptly, Ronin’s smile became even more obvious. Bryan, who was observing this, couldn’t help but silently curse, “Idiot!”
Ronin’s obsession couldn’t even be described as being a fan anymore. It was more like a deep infatuation that was beyond cure.
Just as everyone was enjoying their conversation, suddenly, Liana Swann burst into the room in a fit of anger. She slapped her hand on the desk in front of Catherine.
“Bang”
A loud bang instantly grabbed everyone’s attention. All eyes were on this scene, and they had no idea what kind of drama was about to unfold.
Among the students of Class 8. the Swanns sisters were the most prominent figures. Liana used to be the uncontested star of the class, standing at the pinnacle of the social hierarchy as the heiress of the Swanns.
However, ever since Catherine had arrived, the situation had changed dramatically. While Liana still held her position as a wealthy heiress, Catherine’s unique personality and the support of various influential figures propelled her to a much higher status, surpassing Liana by a long shot.
People in the room cautiously watched this spectacle unfold, fearing that their argument might accidentally ignite them, too.
After all, neither of these two individuals was someone to mess with.
Ronin had been displeased with Liana for a while now, and she dared to confront their Boss publicly. “Did she consider them all as dead?” thought Ronin.
Ronin kicked the table in front of him with a loud bang, creating an ear- piercing noise, and then stood up. His gaze turned ice-cold, and he exuded intense anger as he glared at Su Liana.
“Liana, are you looking for trouble?” said Ronin. Liana shot him a disdainful glance, particularly irritated by his tough stance.
“Ronin, this is between Catherine and me. It’s none of your business, and I advise you not to interfere,” said Liana.
Ronin clenched his fists and ready to charge, However, Catherine stepped in and stopped him. She held Ronin back by a hand while the other rested on the table. Her fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop, creating a rhythmic beat.
“Speak if you have something to say,” said Catherine. Catherine’s words were enough to send shivers down Liana’s spine.
However, thinking that she had the moral high ground today, Liana raised her head arrogantly. She appeared to be an angry elder sister who had lost her rationality.
Liana queried, “Catherine, what do you mean by this? What did Johnathan do to you that you want to send him to Dentler Academy?
“Do you even know what Dentler Academy is? Do you know how dangerous and terrifying it is?
“Johnathan is your brother! Are you really willing to threaten our parents and force your brother into such a dangerous situation? Do you have a heart of stone?”
Liana’s voice was loud, and everyone could hear her clearly. The actions of Catherine left everyone in shock. Nobody had expected Catherine to do something like this.
Most students hadn’t heard of Dentler Academy before, but from Liana’s description, they could tell it wasn’t a good place. A few students who were familiar with Dentler Academy whispered in shock.
“Dentler Academy? Oh my god, that’s like hell! Going to that school means risking your life. It’s terrifying.”
Catherine remained silent, and her cold gaze fixed on Liana. “Is that why you came here in such a rage, just to ask me about this?”
Liana was clearly infuriated by Catherine’s attitude. She glared at Catherine with a rage bordering on madness and exclaimed, “Is it just for this? Catherine, how can you casually say such things?”
If someone were to observe Liana right now carefully, they would notice a hint of a sinister smile in her eyes, contrary to her outward appearance of anger.
“Catherine, did you do this on purpose? Are you afraid that Johnathan will take your place in the Swanns, so you’re willing to put him in such a dangerous situation?” said Liana.
She continued, “How can your heart be so cruel? He’s your brother!”
Liana’s impassioned accusations made her appear as a sister who deeply cared for her brother but felt utterly powerless to protect him.
Liana’s emotional outburst resonated with the entire class. People began to whisper and accuse Catherine of her actions.
They had heard of rivalries in wealthy families, but to put one’s brother in mortal danger for personal gain was unheard of.
No one had expected Catherine to be this kind of person. Her silence only made people believe she was guilty.
As for Dentler Academy, Ronin had heard of it, and he knew it was a terrifying place. He couldn’t believe that his boss had sent Johnathan there. He felt there must be more to the story since Catherine did that.
Seeing that people were misunderstanding his boss, Ronin couldn’t help but urge Catherine. He said, “Boss, please explain!”
Chapter 309 To Give an Account
Ronin Oconnor had just spoken, and before Catherine Swann even had a chance to react, he regretted it.
“Did he really need to explain things to his boss?” thought Ronin. He felt that he must have been driven crazy by Liana to say such things to his boss.
Ronin quickly apologized, “Boss, I’m sorry. I must have been out of my mind to say something like that. Let’s ignore her; she’s like an escaped lunatic.”
Catherine had no intention of paying attention to Liana in the first place. Responding to her would be giving her too much attention. Liana was not worried at all, even realizing Catherine was ignoring her,
She stood on the moral high ground, confident that she could defeat Catherine completely.
“Catherine, why are you so calm when you’ve done something wrong? Clearly, you are the one who made a mistake, aren’t you?” said Liana.
She continued, “You are plotting against your brother to obtain the Swanns’ wealth. Doesn’t your conscience condemn you?”
Under Liana’s vigorous spin, the emotions of the classmates began to change. Now, in the eyes of everyone, Catherine was a demon who would stop at nothing for personal gain, even if it meant destroying family ties.
However, they dared not curse loudly but only whispered their discussions on the side out of fear of Catherine’s authority.
“This is too much. How can there be such a terrifying person?”
“He’s her brother. Even if they didn’t grow up together, does she have to be this ruthless?”
“Oh my god, staying in the same class as someone like this is making my heart race. What if one day she’s not satisfied with us? Will she come after us, too?”
“Exactly, it’s actually possible!”
“Terrifying!”
As the discussion grew more intense, the voices got louder. The criticism against Catherine became more and more severe, even catching the attention of the homeroom teacher.
After the homeroom teacher entered the room and shouted angrily, “Are you all fooling around during the holidays?
Instead of studying quietly and waiting for class, why are you making such a racket?” If it were a minor issue, the homeroom teacher’s scolding would have been enough to quiet everyone down.
However, this time, the matter was too significant. It not only crossed moral boundaries but also involved a cruel form of persecution that normal people would find hard to accept.
Faced with the homeroom teacher’s reprimand, someone couldn’t help but speak up loudly, “Teacher, we request that Catherine should be transferred out of our class. We can’t coexist with a classmate like her!”
As soon as a student spoke up, another raised their hand, saying, “Yes, we must have a class without such students. We fear for our safety if we continue to coexist with her!”
“Absolutely, we must have her removed from our Class 8!”
The uproar of voices left the homeroom teacher dumbfounded. She had not expected things to turn out this way.
“What’s going on? Can someone please explain?” said the teacher in confusion. George Drax stepped forward and explained the situation that Liana had reported in detail under the homeroom teacher’s inquiry,
However, she never expected the situation to be so complicated!
The homeroom teacher was also puzzled. Catherine did not come across as someone solely interested in personal gain, so how could such a thing happen?
Although she found it strange, this was ultimately a family matter. Thus, the homeroom teacher did not want to get too involved.
She cleared her throat and spoke sternly to the students, “This is the Swanns’ affair, not a class matter. Stop discussing it and sit down. Get ready for class!”
The homeroom teacher’s words were clearly unable to suppress the high emotions of the students present.
“Teacher, even though it’s a matter in the Swanns, Catherine persecuting her younger brother shows that her character is lacking. Placing such a student in our class, aren’t you concerned about our safety?”
“Exactly. When she goes crazy, who knows if she might bite someone?”
Ronin was furious and lashed out at them as he heard the comments from those students,
“Are you fucking insane? Talking about biting people, why don’t you start by biting yourself?” cursed Ronin.
Both sides erupted in an argument immediately with this scolding. Although Ronin and his friends usually appeared imposing, now they were facing a united front, and nobody was afraid of anyone else.
The classroom was in chaos, with students from both sides shouting and arguing. Liana couldn’t contain the smirk in her heart as she watched the scene unfold. This was exactly the kind of scenario she wanted to see, with Catherine facing disdain from everyone.
Seeing that the situation was escalating, the homeroom teacher approached Catherine for a talk. She looked at Catherine friendly and said, “I don’t think you’re this kind of person. How about explaining yourself?
Catherine turned sideways and crossed her arms. Her exquisite face was adorned with sharp eyes as she appraised the homeroom teacher with interest.
“Teacher, they all say I’m a demon.. Why do you believe I didn’t do such a thing?” asked Catherine. The homeroom teacher was momentarily stunned and seemingly not expecting Catherine to respond this way.
After a brief moment, she realized the situation and looked at Catherine with a serious and somewhat expectant expression.
“You are my student, and if I don’t believe you, who will? But if there’s a misunderstanding, you should clarify it with your classmates as soon as possible. The class needs unity!” replied the teacher.
Catherine typically didn’t explain herself since she did things as she pleased. As for what others thought or how they saw her, it didn’t concern her at all.
However, today, for the sake of the homeroom teacher, she decided to explain herself briefly. Catherine smiled at the homeroom teacher and said, “Teacher, thank you for your trust, but I did do this.”
“Ah…” The homeroom teacher was left dumbfounded by Catherine’s confession, not immediately understanding what was happening.
Catherine then turned slowly and took a step to the center of the podium. She looked down at all her classmates with an imposing gaze from top to bottom,
She appeared calm, with only a hint of sharpness in her eyes as she swept her gaze around the room and uttered cold words.
“Be quiet!”
The once noisy classroom suddenly fell silent. Some students hadn’t even realized everyone had stopped talking and followed suit.
The homeroom teacher herself was shocked by this display of dominance. Catherine had handled the situation with unparalleled authority. Everyone’s attention shifted to Catherine, and they were curious about what she would say next.
Catherine placed her hands on the podium, leaned forward, and looked down at everyone with a cold, calm expression. “Whether it’s Johnathan or me, it’s all the Swanns’ business.”
The words uttered by Catherine did not satisfy the students. While it was true that it was the Swanns business, it was now involved their classmate, and they felt a need for an explanation.
Under the urging of the students, George was pushed forward. He took a step closer, looking at Catherine with caution.
After a glance at Catherine, George almost dropped dead on the spot. His heart nearly stopped as he felt that her gaze was just too terrifying for him.
George reluctantly spoke up as the students behind him pressured him. Catherine, it is indeed a matter of the Swanns. But since so many students are curious, why not explain it to us?”
Once George had spoken, some students gathered the courage to join in.
“Exactly. If there’s a misunderstanding, clarify it. We have the right to know the truth!”
Chapter 310 Plead For Not Pursuing
Upon hearing this, Catherine raised her head to look at the student who had spoken. The student immediately fell silent and didn’t dare to meet her gaze.
George Drax then cautiously addressed Catherine by wearing a friendly smile and a careful demeanor. “Catherine, we’re concerned about you too. If there’s any misunderstanding, please clarify it. In case someone tries to smear your reputation in the future, we can defend you, right?” said George.
Normally, George was polite to Catherine. It was not easy to be the class president in Class 8, which was known for its strong personality. Catherine didn’t want to make things difficult for him either.
“In that case, I’ll ask Liana a few questions,” said George.
George was relieved when Catherine agreed to his suggestion. Catherine said, “Since Liana brought this matter up in public, it’s completely reasonable to ask her for a response. After all, she is also involved.”
Liana, who had been watching from the sidelines, didn’t expect to be called out by Catherine herself. She didn’t know what Catherine had in mind, but she had a feeling it wouldn’t be good.
She didn’t want to respond to Catherine, but with so many eyes focused on her, she felt that showing any signs of weakness would make her appear suspicious.
Reluctantly, Liana stepped forward. She walked up to Catherine with forced calmness and her icy gaze glaring at Catherine.
“Catherine, there’s no need to struggle anymore. No matter how much you explain, you can’t hide the sin you committed against Johnathan!” claimed Liana.
The reason Liana had exploded in the classroom upon arriving was primarily for her benefit. She wanted to pressure Catherine to revoke the punishment of Johnathan.
Johnathan had promised her that if she could accomplish this, he would give her a set of antique jewelry that she had coveted for a long time.
However, her mother had told her that this was something passed down from her grandmother and was meant to be given to a future daughter-in-law, which meant it could only belong to Johnathan.
She refused to accept that!
She believed that she could obtain anything she desired. Catherine coldly observed Liana, who was pretending to remain calm. She believed that truly guilty people tended to act more desperately, using other means to cover up their wrongdoing.
“Liana, you mentioned that our parents consider Johnathan as their beloved child. Why did they agree to let Johnathan attend such a school then? Are you, as his elder sister, more concerned about Johnathan than our parents?” said Catherine.
It was hard to evaluate Korbin, but Rachael was well-known in the circle for favoring her son. She considered Johnathan as her most cherished treasure, and everyone knew that.
When Catherine asked this question, everyone started to realize. George followed Catherine’s train of thought and felt that she had a valid point.
“Yeah, if that school is so bad, why would your parents let your brother go there? It doesn’t make sense. Liana, what’s the reason?” asked George.
Liana didn’t expect Catherine to bring up this topic suddenly. She only knew that her father had discussed conditions with Catherine.
As long as her father agreed to Catherine’s demands, Catherine wouldn’t expose the real situation of Johnathan, and if not, the deal would be void.
She thought that Catherine wouldn’t dare to reveal the truth, but she didn’t expect Catherine to use this to threaten her. After thinking for a moment, Liana maintained a calm demeanor and faced everyone.
“Catherine, why are you asking this? Don’t you already know the answer? It’s all because you dared to threaten our parents. You’re going too far!” said Liana.
“Oh, not only did Catherine drive away her younger brother, but she also threatened her parents. How can someone be so evil?”
“Actually, it’s not hard to imagine. Didn’t they say she was abandoned in the countryside from a young age? Maybe she lacks empathy!”
“Could it be that Catherine came back for revenge?”
For a moment, various discussions filled the air.
Just as Liana silently celebrated the success of her little scheme and shifted the focus away from herself, Catherine spoke up again. She stared at Liana and asked another question.
“Liana, what could you possibly do to threaten our parents and make them send their most beloved son to suffer like this?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Liana couldn’t wait to respond, “How would I know? You’re such a wicked person; you might have used some means.”
Catherine chuckled coldly as her laughter filled with mockery. Liana had a bad feeling after seeing her like this. She had a sense that something bad was about to happen. Catherine took out her phone right in front of Liana and waved it in front of her.
“Why don’t we call our father right. now and explain the situation? Let our father come and explain why they were so heartless as to send their precious son to Dentler Academy!” said Catherine. Liana instantly paled with just a simple sentence.
Her previously arrogant and somewhat haughty demeanor began to crumble. Panic and confusion flickered in her eyes as she realized the seriousness of the situation. This matter was a private deal between her and Johnathan, and her father was unaware of it.
If she succeeded, her father would praise her. But if she failed or even disrupted her father’s negotiations with Catherine, once her father blamed her, she…
Liana couldn’t believe her situation as she saw Catherine starting to dial her phone. She rushed forward and attempted to stop Catherine’s actions..
“Don’t…” she pleaded.
Catherine paused with a mocking look in her eyes as she glanced at Liana.
“What’s the matter? Are you afraid to let me confront our father?” Catherine taunted.
Liana’s face stiffened, and she appeared extremely embarrassed. She stammered, “Catherine, our father is busy with work every day. There’s no need to bother him with a phone call.”
Her excuse sounded feeble and unconvincing. Catherine decided to play along, aligning with Liana’s suggestion. “Is that so? You’re not worried about disrupting the whole class and insisting on discussing this matter? I believe our father won’t mind spending a few minutes for the sake of class unity,” Catherine said with a perfectly composed response.
Her response left Liana no room to criticize. Liana’s expression remained awkward, and she couldn’t hide her true emotions.
It was evident to everyone that something was amiss. Ronin, who had grown tired of Liana’s constant bickering with his boss, stepped in to support Catherine.
“That’s right. With the situation escalating like this, what’s the harm in making a phone call? Unless someone feels guilty for something and is afraid to confront it,” Ronin added.
Because of Ronin’s statement, more and more students began to suspect that something was indeed wrong.
As he pointed out, if there were no issues, a simple phone call could resolve everything. Why was Liana so reluctant to allow Catherine to make that call?
The discussions in the classroom shifted, and people started doubting Liana’s motives. Liana had no choice but to lower her head and plead with Catherine as she faced the escalating situation and lost the upper hand.
Her eyes were filled with pleading as she looked at Catherine and said, Catherine, can’t we just let this matter go ?